SRI L ANK A
KANDY CRUSH Bright red amidst a gleaming white tiled kitchen, the Waldorf Bold series creates love at first sight for both operator and consumer in this beautiful Sri Lankan bakery.
Mr Daya Weeraratne, founder, was the first to import a high-speed dough kneader. Another first was the Moffat Turbofan oven, purchased and installed in 1999. The oven was placed close to the display area so customers could clearly view the products baking through its glass-panelled doors. For 16 years Kandy residents watched dough rise and transform into The Bakehouse’s famous treats. Nestled in the thickly forested hills of Central Province, Sri Lanka is the majestic Kandy. It’s a cool breath of a city with lush plantations of world famous tea on its doorstep. This city was the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, proudly defended for three centuries before falling to the British in 1815. Housed in an iconic central building, originally the residence of a British government agent, The Bakehouse opened its doors in 1970. This was the first bakery in Kandy. It started by selling cakes and small baked goods and later developed into a full service cafe. Investing in the latest technology has allowed The Bakehouse to cater to the broadening tastes of Kandy residents and the company now boasts nine additional outlets around the city as a result.
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It was this reliability in the face of heavy usage that made Moffat “the logical choice” for Managing Director Nadija Weeraratne when designing a new kitchen for the business. She chose the Waldorf 800 Series as a focus and created an initial design based on information from brochures. Working from a draft menu and an estimated output for the new restaurant, she also had to plan for future growth. In keeping with their tradition of exhibiting the aesthetic appeal of their industry, Weeraratne requested the entire Moffat order to be enamelled in chilli red. This spectacular contrast with the white tiled surfaces has created a workspace that is both visibly appealing and functional. “We designed the kitchen as an island setup. This enabled ease of movement and the services were easily installed,” says Nadija.